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After a few days of food, family and football, Cyber Monday caps off the long Thanksgiving weekend. Grab your computer and wish list and check out these tips for making the most of your paycheck this holiday shopping season.

Start With a List

Before you begin typing anything into a search engine or browsing your favorite online retail catalogs, be sure to make a list of what you are looking for. Even the most seasoned shopper can get carried away with the surplus of deals and the frenzy of the hunt. Before too long, the online shopping cart may be overflowing with frivolous, unnecessary purchases.

Avoid the over-spending trap by knowing ahead of time what you plan to buy and where you plan to shop. Money Crashers* even suggests bookmarking your favorite retailer’s websites prior to the big day. If you organize the bookmarks in a folder, and stick to those sites, you will be less tempted to stray from your list or impulse buy.

Enhance Savings

The money-saving opportunities on Cyber Monday are already extensive, but if you sign up for an Arvest Consumer Credit Card you could earn up to $100 in additional rewards points. After you sign up, continue to use your new card on everyday purchases to earn even more rewards to redeem later.

In addition to credit card rewards, Overstock* recommends looking for coupons and promo codes ahead of time. Your favorite retailers may even send coupons via email or text message in the days leading up to Cyber Monday. Put those promo codes to use and make your purchases even more affordable.

Strategize your Time

Make sure to do plenty of research before picking a website to start scanning. Most retailers host sales at varying times and stagger discounts. If you plan ahead and decide which websites to scour first, you will not miss out on any great deals.

MoneyTips* encourages shoppers to be aware of limited time offers—especially those offered early in the morning. Being mindful of when the best deals will be offered, and spending a little extra time planning accordingly will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.

Double-Check Deals

Pay attention to product prices in the days leading up to Cyber Monday, and familiarize yourself with normal retail prices. This will help to distinguish between a truly great deal and a rip-off. According to Retail Wire*, a few years ago Amazon initially lowered their prices for Black Friday, but raised them again for Cyber Monday. Be a savvy shopper and train yourself to recognize true bargains. Plus, remember to use your credit card at checkout to earn rewards on almost every purchase.

Additionally, The Balance Everyday* reminds customers to factor in shipping costs when ordering online. Even though the items in your online cart may seem like a great deal, the cost for shipping could elevate the price. If you want to avoid unexpected expenses, opt to shop exclusively on websites that offer free shipping.

The views of this article are for general information use only. Please contact and speak with a subject expert or your banker when specific advice is needed.

*Link is a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

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